As soon as the words were out of her mouth she immediately regretted them. What was she thinking?! A game of truth or dare between friends at the age of 7 or 8 was one thing. The dares were something along the lines of, "I dare you to eat this caterpillar" and the truths were more like, "What are you afraid of the most?" and then hilarity ensues. Kali had never been to a party where teens her age had been playing spin the bottle, or truth or dare but she's heard plenty of gossip just in passing when she was in high school. The games were a little more intense, than when you're a child. And a game of truth or dare between a 19 year old girl, and a boy of the same age...who were already struggling with their attraction for one another, could become very intense indeed.
Her heart raced and she spoke first, sounding steadier than she felt, "Who should go first?"
The response was Kiden's surprised chuckle. So, he really hadn't anticipated her to agree. "I suppose I will go first. Do I just ask the question?"
Kali nodded, and then, feeling stupid, remembered that it was dark and he couldn't see her. "Yeah, you just ask me truth or dare, and then I pick which I want to do - then you respond according to that."
"Very well, Kali," he said, his voice pitching low into an overly mischievous tone, "Truth or dare?"
She laughed softly, imagining him wiggling his fingers in a mock evil villain sort of fashion. She flushed, feeling suddenly like a coward, "Truth."
He chuckled again, "Hmmm…" She imagined him stroking his chin, thoughtfully, "Do you think I'm handsome?"
Kali laughed nervously at the boldness of his question and ran an embarrassed hand over her face. The water she soaked in was beginning to feel cool on her face…."Yes." she answered, knowing if she waited too long - then her punishment would be that they had to move closer. He wasn't going to make this an easy game for her. She continued, "Now it's my turn. Kiden, truth or dare?" she asked in the same mock villain voice that he used.
"Truth," he answered, his tone nonchalant.
She wasn't the best about thinking on the fly, so she asked the first question that popped into her head, "What about me do you find so….interesting? As you've put it."
There was a beat of silence, and all she could hear was the natural rippling of spring water, and the drips of condensation falling from the stalactites above. "You're so bold, and honest. You're not great at being sneaky or hiding things, and it's plain to see in the way you react to things - but that's not bad. You're so beautiful and pay no mind to social customs, and I don't think there is a power in this world or the next that can contain you."
Her heart beat loudly in her chest, and she could feel the pulse of her blood through the length of her limbs at the response, unsure of what to say next. So he filled in the next bit, knowing it would make her laugh, embarrassed, "And of course how stunning you are. I cannot forget that part."
She did laugh, and he took his turn. She felt a little more confident after hearing his explanation for what he liked about her, so she chose, "Dare."
"Ohhh, I see why your people found this game so fun," Kiden said excitedly, and she could hear his grin in his tone. "I dare you…" he paused, "to howl like a wolf for 30 seconds as loud as you can."
That outright made Kali laugh, and she shook her head, "Kiden, everyone is asleep." she giggled.
"Then I guess you'll have to move closer," he said, sounding less joking in his mischief.
She could only barely make out his form on the other side of the spring in the darkness, but moving only a little closer shouldn't reveal herself in any way. Regardless, just to be safe she knelt in the pool so that the waters were nearly up to her chin. She realized the purpose of this game was his unironically daring way of getting to know her better, and maybe even trying to work out how they felt about each other. What if he didn't like the conclusions she came to though? She sighed dramatically and moved closer to him 2 steps. She could make out the glint of his glasses resting on his nose, but his form was still shadowy. He must have been able to see that she was well covered in the water, because he chuckled softly at her. "What?" she asked, sounding defensive.
"Nothing at all, it's your turn." he said, still sounding like he was smiling.
She bit her lip a little before she asked for her turn. He chose truth again. She flushed a little at the question she wanted to ask. Asking if he'd ever kissed a girl would be foolish, of course he had by now. "How many girls have you ever been with?" she asked.
"Too many to count," he said, sounding like he was joking - but on her the joke fell flat.
"You realize that's a cop out answer right? And it also makes you sound super shady." she said, her tone also flat.
He laughed and she could see him shrug his shoulders, "I'm just kidding, but if it's a cop out answer then I guess I'll have to move closer." Her heart started pounding again as she heard him moving in the water towards her. Two steps. But that was enough to where she could start to pick out the features of his face in the shadows. At least it was only his face...for now. "My truth, truth or dare?"
She was silent, her arms crossed over her chest. She was still mad about his non-answer. "Alright, alright." he sighed, "3 other girls before that were serious relationships, but casual dating when I was a teenager."
That seemed to satisfy her enough to where she quietly said, "Truth."
"How many boys have you been with?" he asked, sounding very sure of himself that she would struggle with the answer as he had.
She responded almost immediately but sounded subdued, "One."
A moment of silence as he digested that answer, "Truly? Only one guy?" he asked, sounding bewildered.
Kali bit her lip again, her skin burning, "Only one boy. Guys didn't like me much when I was growing up I guess."
"Did you….ever…?" he started to ask, and he let the question fall off. He didn't sound eager to know, or excited to find out if she'd had sex before. But the question annoyed her regardless.
She sighed harshly, "Even though it's against the rules, and you've technically asked me for 3 truths so far. Yes, Kiden. I did, with that one person."
They were both quiet for a moment after that until he said, "I can't imagine why." he said, his voice low. She had a hard time imagining exactly what expression he would have then, but she continued to bite her lip nervously. "Then I suppose I'll take the punishment for breaking the rules, and let you ask me 3 truths to make it even." he said, chuckling softly. She heard him take another 2 steps closer.
She turned away from him, knowing he'd be close enough now to make out her face at the very least. Her body should still be concealed beneath the waters. This was turning into the strangest game of truth or dare she'd ever played. "Fine," she said, her voice still a little shaky, "Are you breaking the rules on purpose just so you can see me?" she asked.
He answered without hesitation, "Yes."
"Why?"
"I told you before, I think you're the most gorgeous girl i've ever seen."
That was two truths that she demanded from him. She felt her heartbeat in her throat as she mulled over her third question, "Is it just a physical attraction for you?" she asked.
"No," he answered quietly, his voice tender. And even though he technically doesn't have to elaborate, he did, "I can't explain why, but I care for you quite a lot. On a level that I haven't experienced before, and it's...an incredible feeling." He stumbled over his words, "It's a difficult feeling to put into words - but I felt it the moment you laid eyes on me. It was as if someone was seeing straight past being the potion master's apprentice and saw me first. And your reaction to my bad flirting was so genuine - I couldn't help the feelings after that."
Kali pressed her hands to her hot cheeks, for some reason hoping they would cool them slightly as she listened to his explanation. After he stopped speaking, she peaked over her bare shoulder to see his expression. It was still dark, but she could see his expression now, his eyes were unguarded and full of…..what she could only recognize as wonder as he gazed at her, his full lips slightly parted as he breathed steadily. She had no doubt he was being truthful, and laying his feelings bare before her. And damn….her treacherous eyes as they slide down the column of his neck, beaded with condensation from the hot spring, to his shoulders which were lean muscle - no doubt from the lifting he would do for Bastian -, to his lean muscled chest. She tore her gaze away from him, and crossed her arms over her own chest. There was no way he didn't catch her staring, but he mercifully didn't point it out. He only said softly, "Truth or dare?"
She kept seeing his genuine expression, and his body. Damn it all, she was 19 years old. Women her age could navigate these waters so easily at her age, and not have a hair out of place by the end. But Kali, just didn't have a clue. She tried to think of what a more confident woman would do in this situation, and before she could think too much about it, "Dare."
He seemed to consider this next task a little longer than the last dare, but when he spoke, his voice was low and soft, "I dare you, Kali, to stand up fully and look at me."
The dare was so simple. Without any context to someone else, it would be the easiest dare for anyone to do. But he knew exactly what he was asking, and knew the nerve she could have to show in order to complete her task. And something about the softness of his voice, did indeed have her feeling a little more daring. There was a soft intake of breath from her, and she slowly moved into a standing position as he was a mere few steps away. The water settled at the lowest part of her hips, but he could still only see her back. He graciously gave her a moment to summon her courage before she turned to him, her arms hanging as relaxed as she could get them at her sides. Her body had been broken when she returned to her home, and parts of her stomach and arms still showed rapidly healing scars that ranged from light pink to more white in color. She wasn't sure if it was the hot springs that lowered her guard that made her feel so vulnerable, or if it was the intensity of his gaze on her body. She watched him as his eyes roved, slowly down her neck, her collarbone, her breasts, her stomach muscles, and finally her hips. She bit her lip and resisted the urge to use her arms to cover her chest. She would be more confident. She would not be a weak little mouse of a girl that would be treated poorly in her next relationship - she would will herself to radiate the air that she deserves nothing but the best treatment in all aspects. It must have shown in her eyes, because when their eyes met again, his glinted as if saying he'd be happy to oblige her. Her skin flushed with the warmth of the spring, and with the pounding desire that was starting to fill her core. "Truth or dare, Kiden?" she asked, just as softly.
Now it was his turn to bite his lip, and even look a little uneasy under her own stare as he said, "Truth….I'm a coward," he laughed nervously, and rubbed the back of his neck.
Her intense expression softened at that, and she giggled quietly before gazing down at the water by her hips, her fingers stroking the silky surface of the waters as she considered her question. Without looking at him she asked, "What is it that you want….with us?"
She waited for him to answer before she looked at him, "I want whatever it is that you would like out of this." he said simply.
She narrowed her eyes at him and pursed her lips in slight annoyance. That didn't help her sort out her feelings for him at all. He picked up on the expression and raised his hands in surrender, chuckling softly, "Hey, you're the one with the complicated story right now. I'm not about to force you into doing anything. If you want we can even end the game right now and go back to sleep."
The offer was tempting, especially with her standing naked before him. But he was expecting her to take his offer and just quit. Nothing annoyed her more than being underestimated, and she straightened her spine as she grinned at him, "You're not getting out of this so easily."
Kiden raised a brow at her and looked at her through his lashes, as if he were struggling to not admire her body again and shook his head a little, "Well it's my turn now, so you don't get a chance to go back now."
When he asked her truth or dare, she chewed on the inside of her cheek. They were only steps away from each other now, in order for them to not be practically chest to chest the next round she'd just have to follow through with whatever she chose. The expression on his face looked awfully smug, as if he already knew what she'd choose. Kali pursed her lips again, and ran her fingers through her long blonde hair, smoothing it away from her face. "Dare."
His grin widened knowingly, and he pretended to think longer than he really needed to. She rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips impatiently. "I dare you to kiss me on the lips." he said specifically, sounding nonchalant.
That….she hadn't expected. Her gaze unwillingly drifted to his mouth, to his full lips that were widened in a knowing smile. He knew he'd practically won the game - he knew she wouldn't kiss him. Just as she hadn't kissed him when she had the chance on their balcony. Gods, that felt like years ago now….
She sighed softly, and took the two steps towards him. They were quite clearly within view of each other now, practically chest to chest but not quite touching yet. She looked up at him, her expression a little pouty. "That's not fair." she grumbled.
He chuckled lowly and leaned his face towards hers. Teasingly, he hovered his lips just a tiny bit away from hers. She could feel his breath on the skin of her lips and her heart pounding loud and hard in her ears. "Isn't it?" he breathed on her lips. Now he was just rubbing it in that he'd basically won the game.
It was hard to tell where the surge of sudden confidence or daring...or whatever emotion rocked through her body, but before she could even think of what she had stood up on her toes and placed a kiss on his lips. It was short, a lingering kiss, as if she were testing what it would be like. His lips were soft, as she'd imagined they'd be, and warm. She felt him jump slightly, but he didn't pull away or move as she slowly pulled away and stood flat footed before him. She watched his eyes as they slowly opened, and he looked stunned. That filled her with a fierce sense of satisfaction that she'd surprised him again. She felt her breath catch as she felt the fingertips of one hand slowly cup her cheek as he leaned in for another soft kiss. This one was a little bit longer, as if he were testing her back and her hand found his way to his shoulder. They parted slowly again and watched each other, his breathing on her lips a little less even now. "I guess I won." she managed to whisper.
She felt his hand slide over her side and around to hold her back, bringing them skin to skin as he chuckled. She slid her hands over his shoulders and neck as she leaned up to bring their lips together again. There was more of a hunger to the kisses they shared now, more intensity as their lips slid over one another. She felt his hand roving over her back, and his other hand sliding to tangle his fingers in her damp hair, cupping the back of her neck as he pressed her to him. The only sound was the dripping of the water from the cavern above them, the rippling of the water, and of their increasingly quicker breathing. She could feel her heart pounding in her ears, her fingertips, her core, warming her body into something smooth and molten. There were no thoughts, no hesitations as she lost herself in the sensations of his skin on hers. She was the first to deepen the kiss by parting his lips with her tongue, searching his mouth, testing him, tasting him. At that he groaned softly, and the hand at her back slid slowly down, down, to cup her rear. Kali gasped softly at the feeling, and tightened a fist in his hair while her other hand slid down his shoulder blades and lingering at his side, feeling the muscles beneath her fingers as they roamed him. He parted his lips from hers to explore her neck, and she sighed at the feeling of his lips and tongue on her skin. She gasped and jumped slightly when he nipped at her with his teeth, and the sound seemed to excite him more. She could feel his excitement growing hard by her hips, and it made her grin excitedly. She grasped at his side and neck as she hiked her thigh up onto his hip and ground her hips into his. He growled into her ear and roughly cupped her ass with both hands and lifted her to him. She giggled softly as he took 4 easy strides with her in his arm back towards where she'd originally soaked in the pool. The stones were cold against her lower back and she gasped. He didn't relent as he ground his hips and hard member punishingly in between her legs. He was pressed flush against her, and his grinding sent her mind spiraling. She wasn't sure how much longer she could go on like this. She couldn't help wanting him, wanting him to be inside of her. She felt her pounding desire in the floor of her abdomen, and her legs tightened around him. One hand brought his face towards hers and she dove into another deep, sweeping kiss, and the other hand roamed down his abdomen and gripped at his hips, and then lower. The moan he emitted into her mouth from her slowly beginning to stroke him had her digging the nails of her other hand into the back of his neck as his fingers tightened on her ass. His hips slowly rocked with the movement of her hand as he pinned her to the side of the pool and brought his hands up now to squeeze her breasts. She moaned again, and tightened her grip on him as she stroked with more fervor. He let out a dark chuckle as his thumbs slid across her already wet peaked nipples, and seemed satisfied with how much she seemed to enjoy it. One of his hands stayed at her breast as the other teasingly made a trail down her stomach, to her hips, and he placed his thumb delicately over the most sensitive spot between her legs. She broke the kiss and threw her head back, biting her lip and allowing him access to her neck once again and he slowly, torcherous began to rotate his thumb. She'd never felt anything like this before - especially not with her previous partner. He was so gentle, yet passionate. But she was sure that he was only teasing her with that damned thumb. "Kiden…" she whined softly, breathlessly. His mouth closed around her nipple and she felt his tongue circling it, she gasped again. "Hmm?" he purred into her skin.
She groaned again as his thumb pressed down, and she felt his fingers slide easily into her. Feeling her, and then slowly pumping in and out. She bit her lip to keep from crying out, but couldn't help the movement of her hips as she struggled to continue stroking him. She wasn't sure how much more of this she could take, and if reading her mind he paused. She hated that he paused, and cupped her face gently between his hands - making sure she was paying full attention to him. His lips were flush with desire, and his eyes were slightly hazed, as she was sure her own eyes were. "Kali…." he whispered, "You're so beautiful."
He paused to kiss her softly, "Do you want to continue?" he asked as they parted.
She blinked her eyes, knowing the implication of his question. Was she ready to actually have sex with him? The haze cleared from her eyes, and she knew the right answer already - as much as she regretted it. The swallowed and sighed, "I...I don't think we should." she stammered, feeling confused now. She lowered her legs from his waist and into the spring water once again, and his hands still gently cupped her face, no longer pinning here to the rocks behind her. She didn't know the first thing about contraception in Hyrule - though she was sure that the women here had their ways. That had been a thing that people take care of long before her time even - but she'd have to unfortunately ask what those methods would be.
More than that, what did this mean for them? Her thoughtfulness must have shown on her face, because he said, "Tell me what you're thinking."
Kali bit her lip, letting her hands rest at his sides. He brushed her cheek softly with his thumbs as he let her think of how to put it into words, "I'm just….I'm still confused."
She wasn't sure if this meant they were serious, or if she were ready to be fully committed to someone in any way right now. "In what way?" he asked.
"In that… " she started, taking a steadying breath, "I'm not sure I would recognize what love actually is. And I'm not sure if I can be seriously committed to someone with everything that's still going on. I'm not sure if it's right or wrong to move on, without breaking things cleanly in my original world - though I don't regret leaving."
She paused before she went on, "What does this mean for us then? If I can't feel committed enough to….to….go fully?"
Kiden searched her eyes, his expression non judgemental but a little regretful to hear those words from her. He pressed his forehead to hers gently as he replied, "If you'd like it can be strictly physical for now. I'm willing to accommodate you in any way I can, until you decide for yourself what it is you truly want."
Kali closed her eyes and placed her hands tenderly over his, amazed at how quickly she let this get out of control. At how much she had enjoyed it. It almost felt like a dream that any of this had happened in the first place. "I'll think about it." she said quietly, sounding defeated.
"Hey," he whispered, tilting her eyes up to meet his, "There isn't a rush. You're dealing with a lot. And in any case, I don't regret my feelings for you, or what was said and done here tonight. I'll always cherish this time with you."
Kali felt a lump swell in her throat and she smiled at him gratefully, relief washing over her that he was being so understanding. She only hoped her actions and feelings weren't as unfair to him as she was guessing.
--
They had gotten dressed together after that, and agreed that for the sake of awkwardness, it might be better for them to return to camp one at a time in case anyone had awoken in the night. Kiden went first, and she gave him a solid 30 minute lead. When she returned to camp, her mind distracted with the thoughts of what they'd just been doing, and her feelings for Kiden, she hadn't noticed that Link was sitting up and awake by his fire until he spoke quietly to her. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Kali jumped and held a hand over her heart, "I didn't know you were awake."
"Jumpy as always," he said, grinning jokingly at her. But his question still hung in the air.
"Yeah, I'm okay - I just felt like I needed another soak in the springs." she responded, not exactly lying. She crossed to him as he stood to meet her, brushing off the back of his tunic. "Why are you up?" she asked him, wondering if it had been Kiden that woke him.
Link shrugged his shoulder, "I just wake up in the night sometimes. It's difficult to sleep from time to time. Y'know...nightmares."
She did know about nightmares, and nodded. His explanation brought her back to when she'd returned home, and he brewed her tea that would help her sleep without dreaming. That suddenly made sense in a very grim way. "Anyway," Link continued, looking sheepish, "Can I borrow you for a few minutes, I promise it won't take long."
Kali smiled at him, realizing she must look tired. She looked past him, at the dark shapes that made up the mountainous horizon. The sky was already starting to lighten, and it would be dawn soon. "Sure. I'm here anytime you need to talk." she responded.
Link looked relieved as he began walking down the path towards Goron City. She assumed it was to get away from any possible eavesdropping from those they were camping with. He was oddly quiet, and looked thoughtful as they walked together. By the time they got to another overlook that was well away from the camp, he had her nervous he was going to give her bad news or something. "What's on your mind?" she asked as they both settled onto the cliffside, letting their legs dangle over the rocky edges.
The wind was stronger here, and even if anyone had followed them, she was sure they wouldn't be overheard because of it. Both of their hair whipped softly around their faces, and Link took a long pause, his steady blue eyes gazing at the mountains. "Is something wrong?" she asked again, sounding worried.
Link shook his head, and then seemed unsure, and shrugged his shoulders instead. Kali began to twist her fingers together, worrying that he was still angry with her for snapping at him the day before. Just as she was about to speak he started first, "I was talking with Darunia yesterday," which she recalled Darunia dragging him off while they went to find the springs. "And, he seemed to notice my mood. So I was talking to him about everything. Y'know - the stress I was feeling."
Kali nodded, following him so far. It only made sense to confide in your friends when something is weighing on your mind. He glanced at her, still looking unsure and continued, "I explained everything to him. How we found you, your story, and what we've learned about your abilities, your disappearance and how I reacted to that…" he paused.
"What do you mean?" she asked cautiously, unsure of where this was going.
He sighed and ran a hand over his face, "Kali, when you disappeared. I thought I was going to lose my mind. We had become such good friends since you got here, and I was afraid you were going to choose to leave, or quit wanting to know us. Honestly, I'm still afraid you'll decide you want to leave. I was so afraid that you'd never come back when you were taken, and I was so furious at that moron, Kiden, for letting it happen. I hardly slept, or ate anything, and every waking moment I had I was scouring everywhere I could think of trying to find you. Impa was about to strangle me herself." he laughed, but it sounded harsh.
Her heart weighed heavy with guilt, and sadness for her friend. That he had suffered like that and it was her own fault, even if he did blame Kiden for it. She watched him as he gazed down past the edge of the cliff, to the rock below while he sorted his thoughts. "Anyway, I told all of that to Darunia - and he sort of helped me work it out within myself why I was being so….overbearing since you came back. And how much I resent Kiden."
There was a long silence, as if he were waiting for her to respond. She wasn't sure what to say at this point, but she still wasn't exactly following where he was going with his story. She was glad that he was working everything out, "And...what did Darunia say?"
Link swallowed hard, and seemed like he was struggling to not look at her as he responded, "This isn't really about what he said - as much as it is what I need to say...to you." he muttered, and shrugged his shoulders, "Which….first of all is that I'm sorry for being so overbearing, and I'm going to try my hardest to fix that. I just hope you'll be patient with me, because it is just because I'm so afraid of something happening to you."
She nodded, smiling softly at him, "It's alright. I'm sorry for snapping at you - I just…..it's overwhelming dealing with the memories of being taken and then having so many people doting on me. There are too many sensations at once and you were the one, unfortunately, right in front of me. I'm grateful that you care, Link."
Kali expected him to look relieved, to look back at her and grin or nudge her shoulder and pretend to knock her off the cliff. But he didn't, he just kept staring down, his lips pressed together. Her smile faded a little, "I just…" he muttered slowly, "I do care about you, Kali. A lot."
She furrowed her brows in confusion at the statement, at the….double meaning of it. A long beat of silence went by between them as he was waiting for her to say something. But all she really wanted was clarification from him. She'd never thought to question this in Link before. They'd always seemed like best friends before, to her. But she'd never considered in what way Link might care for her. As she opened her mouth to ask, he cut her off, "Anyway," he chuckled and straightened his shoulders, as if brushing off the conversation, and the statement he's just made, "I also wanted to teach you something I think might help, so you don't have to keep making trips up the mountain."
She pressed her lips together, and twisted her fingers in her lap. She so badly wanted to ask him what he meant before. But he seemed so tired, and it had taken a lot of courage for him to even speak the words. It's not like she was planning to disappear anytime soon, but she would find a way to address this. For now, she said, "Oh? You gonna teach me how to run high knees up the mountain?" she asked, trying to sound lighthearted.
He grinned with relief as she played along, "Nah, I'm not as cruel as Impa."
She laughed as Link began to dig through a pouch that was attached to his belt. She raised her eyebrows at the object he pulled out. It was sort of oval shaped, like the shape of a potato, and a soft brown in color. It was made of some sort of polished ceramic, with what appeared to be 8 holes made in it. "What is that?" she questioned, sure that she sounded stupid for asking.
Link chuckled and shook his head at her, "I guess they don't have these where you're from either huh? It's called an ocarina."
She waited for him to go on, but he seemed to be watching for her reaction - as if he was thinking this identification of the object was going to blow her away. She rolled her hand as if urging him to go on, "And?" she prompted.
He nudged her shoulder playfully and positioned his fingers over the holes as if he'd done this thousands of times. It was very possible that he has. And he pressed her lips gently to the mouthpiece of the thing, and blew softly. A grin split across her face at the charming sound that it made. It was an instrument! He played a few notes and then looked at her expectantly, "That's so cool!" she crowed, reaching for the ocarina, "I wanna try!"
He pulled it out of her reach and wrinkled his nose at her, "Ew, Kali germs." he teased.
She laughed loudly and stuck her tongue out at him, but relented her attempts at stealing the instrument from his hands. "So what did you want to teach me then?" she asked again.
"A song," he said, his expression becoming more somber. "I learned it during my travels, and...songs in Hyrule have interesting effects on the soul."
She raised a brow skeptically, "Well yeah, all music does to some people."
He shook his head, "No, not like how you're thinking. Certain songs have very real effects. It's hard to explain without just showing you." He waved one hand between them as if he were trying to get her to stop distracting, "Anyway, pay attention -" he laughed.
Kali rolled her eyes and then widened them closer in his direction to unnerve him...and to make him laugh. She succeeded, but then pulled back to let him explain. "This song is literally called the song of healing. It seems to me that for the most part, the springs have helped draw some of the pain from you and at least allowed you to think clearly. I can just….sense it in you. You seem lighter now."
She nodded, understanding what he meant. She did feel lighter. "But, I thought about teaching you this song so that if it ever comes creeping back up on you. You can address it while playing this song or….however you want to hear it. I'd be happy to play it for you whenever you need it."
She was touched by his offer, gratitude for the gesture spreading warmth in her chest. She didn't deserve to have him as a friend, she suddenly thought. He was so undeniably good, and always had her best interests at heart. "As much as I'd love to have you around all the time - It would be awfully annoying for you to have to see my mug all the time." she giggled, "But I'm perfectly capable of singing myself."
She said the words with gumption, with confidence - but then she remembered that anytime she had to sing by herself, without a group of chorus members around her, she damn near shit her pants. "But...i'm not great at it." she added, just to prepare him.
He must have seen the conflict within her, as he grinned at her. "You don't have to if you don't want to." he said sympathetically.
"No, no, you offered. So now you get to suffer." the blonde girl replied, trying not to sound as nervous as she felt.
This made him laugh outright, but it didn't do anything to soothe her nerves. It was given away in the way she picked her fingernails in her lap, and she knew it. She'd never sang in front of anyone alone before. She bit her lip as Link brought the ocarina to his lips again and began the song. The song was somber, mournful, and not all what she was expecting. She had expected a song that made one feel happier, that brought up the mood. Instead, the feelings that started to roll through her were fierce in intensity - as if demanding to be acknowledged, to be let loose. Her eyes slid to the rising sun on the horizon, and got lost in the feelings the song raised within her. Feelings of despair that had been buried so far down that even the springs healing waters couldn't reach it, feelings of jealousy for other Hylian women, of insecurity in her own abilities and in her body, of the intense fear she felt at the thought of losing her friends in this conflict or of her failing to defeat Pallas. She hadn't realized that tears had spilled over her cheeks until she felt Link's warm fingertips brush them away. Kali jumped and swiped her palm over her cheeks. She hadn't been sobbing, she noticed, her throat wasn't raw with the racking sobs she's experienced before - but just silently crying as she let herself get lost in that song as he played it. It was hard, addressing those feelings so plainly and so suddenly, but she felt even lighter now than she had before. "Wow…" she sniffed, swiping the last of her tears away. It was odd that she didn't even feel ashamed for crying in front of him.
He was looking at her with an expression of unbridled understanding of what she'd just been through. Undoubtedly, he'd faced something like this before in his life. "That….sure is some real effects…" she sniffed again and let out a relieved laugh. He laughed with her and pulled her into a gentle hug.
She was grateful for it, and squeezed him back, "Thank you for sharing this with me, Link." she said softly, her chest full of warmth from the emotion that stirred within her. He was the first to pull away, his brows raised, "Don't thank me yet. We are going to sit here and play this song until you know it by heart." he grinned teasingly, "That way, anytime you need this. It'll always be there for you to use."
She groaned loudly and waved her face with her hands, already anticipating the tears that were about to come. "I sound even worse after I've cried." she claimed. It made him laugh.
As they went through the song over and over - it took several tries for her to finally hum the notes herself. Her voice hadn't been used like this in a long time, so it was a little rough sounding at first. But once she was warmed up, she hummed along with the sound of his ocarina while staring down at her fingers in her lap. She kicked her legs back and forth nervously over the cliffside, and eventually Link cut off his playing in the middle of the song and watched her and she continued to hum it herself.
Her cheeks blushed hotly, knowing that he was watching her hum the notes but she continued. And when the song ended, she glanced up through her hair, shyly. He was just smiling happily at her, looking like all the world that there was nothing else for them to be doing. She cleared her throat and pushed her hair back behind her ears, "Well?" she prompted.
"It sounds perfect." he said quietly, looking down at the ocarina with a smile and then putting it away.
They both looked out at the horizon, where the sun had shined brightly over the mountain tops. Kali felt lighter than ever now that they'd run through the song more than a dozen times, and she glanced at Link from the corner of her eyes. He wasn't looking at her, but at the same time, she somehow knew he was thinking of the time they'd just shared together.
And he was smiling in a way that made her stomach uneasy.